THE 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) got off to a troubling and controversial start across several examination centres in Kaduna, Katisna, Delta, Imo, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun states, with candidates reportedly forced to sit for papers late into the evening following delays in the delivery of examination materials.
News Point Nigeria reports that the situation, which unfolded over several days, left many candidates stranded at examination centres for hours and, in some cases, compelled them to write examinations under poor lighting conditions after nightfall.
Reports indicated that the challenges began on Monday when candidates scheduled to sit for the Physics Essay and Objective papers, fixed for 2pm and 3:30pm respectively, were made to wait for several hours before the examination eventually commenced.
The delays reportedly persisted on Wednesday, with the General Mathematics Objective paper beginning as late as 6:30pm in some centres and around 8:30pm in others.
As a result, many candidates did not complete the examination until after 10 p.m., raising concerns among parents, education stakeholders and members of the public.
The situation was said to be particularly severe in parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where candidates experienced significant delays during the Agricultural Science Practical examination.
According to reports, the first batch of the practical examination was scheduled for 2 p.m., while the second batch was fixed for 3:30pm
However, as of 8pm, some centres in the state had yet to commence the examination.
The prolonged delays forced candidates to sit for their examinations under difficult and inadequate lighting conditions.
In videos that quickly went viral on social media, students were seen writing their examinations using torchlights, mobile phone flashlights and solar-powered lamps.
The images sparked widespread outrage online, with many Nigerians questioning how candidates sitting a major public examination could be subjected to such conditions.
One X user, Mariam Kehinde, expressed frustration over the situation, revealing that her sister had remained at the examination centre long after normal hours.
“What exactly is happening in this country sef? My sister left for her WAEC exam since morning and still hadn’t returned home,” she wrote.
“She called around 6pm saying their exam paper had just arrived at that time nitori olorun. She was still at the exam centre, and my mum even had to wait.”
Another user, Adedeji Adeyinka, described Thursday’s events as deeply disturbing and criticised what he termed unacceptable lapses in the conduct of a national examination.
“Candidates writing Government completed the Theory paper and were instructed to wait for the Objective paper, only for the question paper to arrive more than FOUR HOURS later,” he posted.
“How is this acceptable in a national examination? Even more shocking was the situation faced by students writing Agricultural Science Practical. An examination scheduled for 2:00 p.m. did not commence until about 9:00 p.m. in many parts of Oyo State.
“A seven-hour delay is not a minor inconvenience. It is a systemic failure.”
Concerns were also raised over reported shortages of examination question papers.
Another X user identified as Mum Ire lamented the situation during Wednesday’s Mathematics examination.
“Out of 75 candidates, only 35 Mathematics question papers were brought to the examination centre for the entire exam yesterday,” she wrote on Thursday.
“When did WAEC start operating like this?
“Now we are being told that the Agriculture Science practical questions are on the way at 8:10pm.”
Similar complaints were made by Joel Abodunrin, who also decried the shortage of question papers at examination centres.
“WAEC’s been doing well until today,” he wrote on Wednesday.
“An examination hall of about 250 candidates and having Mathematics question papers for only 120.
“Getting to tear the questions into pieces so that all could have something to do.”
Another social media user, Hakeem Olaoye, expressed concern over candidates being made to write examinations at unusually late hours.
“WAEC exam being conducted late in the evening,” he wrote.
“The Agric practical exam that was supposed to be held by 2pm just commenced some minutes after 7pm
“Very disheartening indeed. Likewise for Mathematics. A school with 130 students was given 16 question booklets to share among.”
Beyond the operational challenges, the development has also heightened concerns about the safety and welfare of candidates, particularly against the backdrop of growing security challenges in different parts of the country.
Reacting to the complaints, Moyosola Adesina, Head of Public Affairs at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria, told TheCable that the examination body would soon issue an official statement addressing the concerns raised by candidates, parents and the public.
The development also drew criticism from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Reacting to the reports, NANS President, Akinteye Azeez, described the situation as unacceptable, dangerous and deeply concerning.
“It is both appalling and condemnable that young Nigerians, who had already endured months of preparation and the mental rigours associated with external examinations, were subjected to unnecessary hardship by being kept at examination centres far beyond reasonable hours,” he said.
“No examination procedure, administrative challenge, or operational deficiency should come at the expense of the safety and fundamental rights of students.”
Azeez said the situation was even more alarming because it occurred in the South-West region, which has recently witnessed incidents of kidnapping, crime and other security threats.
“What makes this development even more alarming is the fact that it occurred within the South-West region, a zone that has, in recent times, witnessed incidents of kidnapping, crime and other security challenges,” he said.
“Against this backdrop, it was grossly irresponsible for examination authorities to permit circumstances that left students stranded or lingering at examination centres late into the night, thereby exposing them to potential danger.”
The NANS president called for a comprehensive review of WAEC’s examination logistics, planning mechanisms and contingency measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
He stressed that the welfare, safety and rights of candidates must remain a top priority at all times.
“Students must never become victims of administrative failures, poor planning or institutional negligence,” he added.
The 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination began on April 21 and is scheduled to conclude on June 19.
However, the controversies surrounding delays, shortages of examination materials and the late-night conduct of papers have already cast a shadow over this year’s examination exercise, prompting renewed calls for improved planning, accountability and greater protection for candidates across the country.